Apparatus for heating vapors between compressors and wells



June 11, 1929. L. J. HUSTED I 1.716.854

APPARATUS FOR HEATING VAPORS BETWEEN COMPRESSORS AND WELLS Filed Sept. 13, 1926 INVENTOR. Lama/2a U. fims'mw ATTORNEY.

Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEMUEL J'. BUSTED, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO OIL WELL REJU- PATENT OFFICE.

VENATING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING VAPOR-S BETWEEN COMPRESSORS AND WELLS.

Application filed September 13, 1926.

My invention relates to a novel form of apparatus for increasing production 1n the oil wells already positioned in the o l fields, to prolong the life of oil wells and Oll fields, to remove waxy 0r asphaltic obstructions from the oil well and oil sands, to produce viscosity, capillarity, adhesion and frictional resistance, to rejuvenate old 011 wells and oil fields and to recover a greater amount of oil from the oil sands.

That much of the oil in a field is never recovered is well known, but how large a pro portion is left underground and the poss1b1lity of increasing the recovery can not fully be realized until one clearly understands that the exhaustion of an oil well is due more to the exhaustion of the natural gas, which is the principal agent in driving the oil into the well, than to the exhaustion of the Oll 1tself. Authorities claim that the most feaslble methods for recovering more oil from the formations is by supplying and applying an external force which would be equally as powerful an expelling agent as were the natural forces.

There are three separate methods for which claims are made whereby such oil might be recovered viz 1. The flooding of theoil stratas by water,

2. By a solvent,

3. By heat.

The flooding of oil stratas by water is looked upon with much disfavor as water being an enemy of oil forced into an oil strata forever ruins the strata as a source of supply for petroleum.

Many different kinds and characters of solvents and chemical solutions and heating devices have been and are being tried in various fields; none, however, have proven successful.

The recovery of oil may be divided into two stages viz 1. The expulsion of the oil by the natural forces.

2. The use of external forces after the natural forces have become exhausted.

Natural forces are called gases; gases are known as dry or Wet.

The physical principles by which gases move the oil are viz 1. By direct pressure,

2. Going into solution in the oil under jgiressure er associating with it,

Serial No. 134,982.

3. By the carrying or absorption of the vapors of the oil.

There comes a time in the life of a well when practically all the force of the gases has been exhausted and gravitation is the principal remaining force since viscosity, capillarity, adhesion and frictional resistance oppose and retard the flow of the oil and its movement through the sand.' And where the dip of the oil sands is low and irregular. and the interspaces of the sands are filled with silty and waxy materials gravity fails to be a reliable energy.

There are so many different kinds and charactors of devices now in use that to enumerate them would be impossible. Suflice to say that they are all good in extracting the oil from i the well when production comes into the hole, but none, however, supplies sufficient energy or replaces the natural forces to the oil and oil sands whereby the oil in saturation in the sands is recovered, or whereby mud bridges, dams, seals or obstructions are removed, or whereby viscosity, capillarity, adhesion and frictional resistance are reduced.

The best known and most extensively used process is the introducing of compressed dry gas or air in oil wells and sands. Compressed gas or air is a good substitute for the exhausted natural forces, but it being at low temperature when introduced into wells or Zones its absorption qualities is nil when com pared to what they are if heated.

Gas or air follows the line of least resistance and very often when forced into oil stratas follows cracks, crevices, and larger intcrspaces of the sands and reaches avenues of escape without actually disturbing or accomplishing any results as far as recovery of oil is concerned, but when heated. after being compressed and forced into wells or formations it radiates heat, decreasing viscosity, melts waxy and asphaltic obstructions, generates vapors from the oil which creates pressure which agitates the oil causing a move ment of the oil, which opens the pores of the sand, thus delivering the oil to the well, and acts as a better expelling force than were the natural forces as when hot it is a better medium for generating and carrying vapors, melt 'ing obstructions, reducing viscosity, capillarity, adhesion and frictional resistance, re cevery cf e11, prolonging the lte cf the field. Varieus methods of increasing production.

pressed vapor,

at i

in oilwells have, heretoitore been, proposed, but without any satisfactory results; in such cases cumbersome and expensive apparatuses have been used. for this purpose, with disappointing returns for the money expended.

By the use oi my invention it lS'POESSlblB to increase the production of existing wells to a marked degree with minimum expense and without extensive alterations oi the apparatus already in use.

The use oi a compressed ;as or oil in treating a well, falls short of the hoped lior reits, tor the cr-mupreesed gas or oil has hereto. rebcen introduced therein, cold. I have iiound inpractice that by heating; a vapor, gas or air after it leaves t|1 compressor, when either natu l or other i is used in the coin- })lt%f%f:0l',,tt1ll 'ieninl'roilucinp; the heatedcomgas; or air ,into the well excellent results are attained. liiccordinglytlie niainobject of my invention is toheat vapor,

or air as it leaves the compressor. 'lh heated vapor, gas oraiigpot only in lil"ing the,thiid inthe vell, but acts as a solvent, vaporieing the lighter hydrorcarhons and causing the fluid inthe well to run more freely by decreasing its viscosity.

A. :liurther ohjecto t my invention is (to intro duce "(30111 pressed and heated vapor, gas, or ,air within the well, with or w thout removing b is a moreor less ,diagrainmatic, frag iinentary, part sectional View or my novel :l'jorin. of apparatus illustrating the manner in which nly noveltiorm of process is carried into elliept, V

, 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional ,vieiv of the pressure and outlet valve ,assei'nbly,

h i may use 'lTLQrUHiQ'ClilOn fiY-Lljll the tubwin in oi the well, and Fig 13 is similar view of oneof the outlet vali is. l

Describing my invention morein detail,

the casino; 2 of the well is equipped with a casln head 4, which casing head may have ed, number of pipeconnections 6 associatedwith a liner 8 supported in said head in i, any manner in practice desired, anduvithiathe, liner 8 is positioned the tubing 10,,the, lower end of which is preferably equipped with a perforat c sii'nilar parts. In the drawings,

and still remain within the province of my invention.

Positioned above tl eend portion 12 is a pre re valve; casingfi lv, associated with the portion 12 and. the ti ihing 10, in any manner deli hbut n'i z'ferabiy by means ol the screwthuea -l connections 26,as lllOl'tLPdllllUlllillly showniin l 'lhe casingQ-l is preferably o'fi theidouble conical t;ype,ti1e upper portion oi whi-ch is ,also equipped with, any desired number of outlet valves 16, sin'riilar in constr ction tathoseon the.perforated ei'ulportion 120i thetubing 10, and positioned in, the casing, Qli is,the pressure ,valve 2-8, spring pressed, and ass ciated as shown. 7

The torm thi ,valvehtakes in practice, however, ,is iniinniterial. The casing 52 equipped with themsnal ,perilorated portion 30, tliirough which the fluid, as Welles sand and other obstructions, enter the well, which sand must frointtim e, to time be blown iirom,

the well.

The fluid litted, as well, as the ligl-iter hydrocarbons and vapors enter, thedii' er 8, and are,icondnctedoto,any desiredipoint of discharge by the piping 6. As seen inil ig. 1, this ,pizping'may, lead to thegastrap 32, a valve 34- used :lior coi-itrollingthe How of the fluid to the trap, which,trap imay be equipped. with piping, 36 lo ilgit itoa condenser, said trap being also connected to an oil tank 38 by a pipe eonnectionflgO, contain,-

,, ing a controlling valve 4L2, there being also, if desired, a drain pipe 4 1-, :lor draining oil. the sand and ;the like, \l-llltll pipe may be cos t-rolled,by a valve at), The oil tank 38 may be equipped with a valvedmh'aw oii connection giS.

As shown, in Fig, 1, a compressor, 50, i eqni-ppedavith a gas in-let 52, into which the natural gas touiulinithe well or other gas is introduced to be compressed, is provided, the compressed gas, if desired, being; conducted by the outlet pipe 54; iZO. t'( J,0113tp1',6S5OCl ,tanl; 56, equipped with the usual relief valve 58 and the pressure gauge 60, an outlet pi ie 62, provided with ,a controlling valve (Sileading; toga conventional or other fOlJIll of heater 661,,pre'lerahly of the electric type and that disclosed ,i-n oneof my prior applications, the elec 1c lead supplying" ill) structure just described is suggestive merely, and that the compressed and heated vapor gas or air may be conveyed to the well in other ways, without disturbing the pumping elements thereof.

In operation the vapor, gas or air is compressed in the compressor 50, operated by the electric motor 76, or otherwise and the compressed vapor, gas or air is confined under pressure in the tank 06. Opening the valve 64-, the compressed vapor, gas or air passes through the heater 66, where it is heated to the required temperature, any preferred number of such heaters being provided, after which the compressed and heated vapor, gas or air is introduced. into the tubing 10, passing out through the outlet valve 16 and out the perforated portion of the easing into the oil bearing stratas or oil sands. This compressed and heated vapor, gas or air vaporizes the lighter hydrocarbons of the oil, decreases its viscosity, thus permitting it to be lifted more easily by the pressure of the compressed vapor, gas or air or by pumping, the compressed and heated vapor, gas or air also acting as a solvent for the oil.

Should any of the compressed and heated vapor, gas or air condense, it will act as a solvent, thinning out the oil and increase the gasolene content of the oil.

Ylhe valve controlled portion 12 may also be used to blow the well when it has become sanded, waxed-over, bridged or otherwise obstructed, by permitting the compressed vapors, gas or air to blow said obstructions through the perforations in the end portion ill) of the well casing 2.

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity, it will be obvious that it may be modified throughout a wide range. I accordingly do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, but reserve the right in practice tomakc any and all modifications thereof that fall within the scope of the appe ided claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. in a device of the character described, a pipe for conveying into a well a heated fluid underpressure, said pipe closed at its free end and provided with a check valve arranged to be unseated by the fluid pressure and to seat to confine the fluid pressure to the well, Supplemental valves on said pipe for relieving the pressure of the pressure fluid and a plurality of valves on said pipe below said check valve acting to admit the pressure fluid into the well and check the flow of liquid into said pipe.

2. In a device of the character described, a pipe for conveying into a Well a heated fluid under pressure, said pipe closed at its free end and provided with a plurality of valves arranged circuinferentially thereof to admit the pressure fluid to the well and check the inflow of liquid into said pipe, and a check valve on said pipe and above said valves to admit the pressure fluid to the valve portion of the pipe and check the escape of pressure fluid back through said pipe.

In a device of the character described, a pipe for conveying a heated fluid under pressure to a well, a plurality of circumferentially arranged superposed valves on said pipe to admit the pressure fluid to the Well and cherk the inflow of liquid to said pipe, a check valve in said pipe above said valves to admit the pressure fluid to the valved-portion of said pipe and check the back flow thereinto, and pressure fluid relief valves on said pipe.

In a device of the character described, a pipe for conveying a heated fluid under pres sure to a well, a valve chamber at one end connected to the end of said pipe, a check valve in said chamber to admit the pressure fluid therethrough and check the back flow thereof, a pipe connected to the other end of said valve chamber and arranged to extend into the oil bearing strata, and a plurality of superposed valves on said last named pipe to admit the pressure fluid therethrough and check the passage of fluid into said pipe.

5. A. combined well blower and fluid lifting device adapted for special use in connection with a fluid lifting system and adapted to be connected to the tubing of an oil well, said device comprising an elongated member, plugged at one end, a set of outwardly opening valves positioned along the longitudinal length of said member, a valved top portion detachably associated with said member, and a pressure valve in said top portion whereby heated fluid may be introduced in said top portion and discharged therefrom, or ad mitted to said member and discharged therefrom for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LEMUEL J. HUSTED. 

